Galvin set to miss crunch Cork game

PAUL GALVIN is unlikely to take any part in Sunday's Munster final after not even being listed on the Kerry bench last night.

Jack O'Connor has named the same team that started against Limerick last time out, when Galvin was the first man called up from the subs -- but his injury problems appear to have ruled the Finuge star out.

Despite speculation Kieran Donaghy may play in midfield, Kerry have stuck with Brian Sheehan and Anthony Maher -- as the defending champions make do without the suspended Tomas O Se.

As expected, Cork boss Conor Counihan has gone for captain Graham Canty at full-back to do a marking job on Donaghy. Canty's best position is recognised at centre-back and he got an All Star at No 6 last year.

But he also took on the full-back role in Cork's two-game semi-final against Kerry last year and kept the towering Tralee target-man scoreless in their drawn first game.

Canty replaces Eoin Cotter at full-back and the All-Ireland champions have brought Noel O'Leary, a player who is always combative against Kerry, back to their half-back line.

And the third change in their re-shuffled defence since their defeat of Waterford sees Jamie O'Sullivan start at corner-back, where dual star Eoin Cadogan loses out.

The other expected Cork change comes in their half-forward line where the in-form Pearse O'Neill, another player Kerry have struggled to contain, replaces Fergal Lynch on the left wing.

Cork have not beaten Kerry in a championship game in Killarney since 1995 but there have been a remarkable number of draws between the sides in the past decade -- and four of their last six meetings in Killarney have finished level.

Kerry won by just a point in their semi-final replay meeting at Pairc Ui Chaoimh last year and the sides also drew in the 2009 provincial semi-final, the 2006 Munster final and the 2002 semi-final.

However, they will be without injured wing-back Ciaran Kenny and midfielder Willie Doran, as Eoin Quigley now partners Mick Jacob in midfield.

Meanwhile, Leitrim's All-Ireland qualifier hopes have been dealt a blow with official confirmation that wing-back Wayne McKeon is no longer part of their panel.

Mickey Moran's team face last year's defeated All-Ireland finalists Down in a difficult away clash next week and McKeon, who was the Man of the Match when Leitrim ousted Sligo in the Connacht championship, will be a big loss.

split

It is not clear what caused the split but McKeon trained with his club (Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins) this week at the same time that the county were training. Leitrim's qualifier has a 3.0 throw-in at Newry and Carlow are furious that their start (2.0) against Antrim at Casement Park is even earlier.

Carlow manager Luke Dempsey, has described the timing of their game as "ridiculous" and Carlow have requested for it to be changed.

Dempsey will also be without one of his regular starters as Sean Gannon has gone to Boston.